Field guide

What a halal mark is — and is not

A recognised mark on the pack is product-level evidence for that body's scheme. It is not Muttoo classifying the additive, and it is not a fatwa for every school. Official artwork is trade-marked; this page describes the mark, it does not copy it.

• Malaysia (recognised abroad)

  JAKIM — Halal Malaysia

  Typical look. The national Malaysia Halal logo: a roundel with Arabic and Latin HALAL, often with JAKIM or the Malaysian standard number. Trade-marked — this page describes it, it does not reproduce the artwork.

  What it certifies. A product, premise or logistics chain under Malaysia's halal standard. The mark on a pack is product-level evidence for that body's scheme.

  What it does not mean. It is not a ruling that every additive in the abstract is verified-halal on Muttoo. It does not settle scholarly disagreement (carmine, shellac, alcohol carriers) for someone who follows a different body.

  How to verify. Check the product or premise on the Halal Malaysia portal. Open the portal

• United States (and licensed marks)

  IFANCA

  Typical look. Crescent wordmark with IFANCA and often HALAL. On US packs it may sit near a USDA panel. Do not confuse a Shopper's Guide PDF with a mark on this pack.

  What it certifies. The named product or facility IFANCA certified. Useful evidence for that SKU.

  What it does not mean. An IFANCA educational PDF listing gelatin — investigate is not a certificate for the bar in your hand. Muttoo citing IFANCA is not IFANCA certifying Muttoo.

  How to verify. Use IFANCA's certified-product search, or the contact on the pack. Open the portal

• Singapore

  MUIS — Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

  Typical look. Singapore Halal mark issued by MUIS. Often a wordmark with HALAL under MUIS. High-risk raw materials must come from recognised foreign bodies.

  What it certifies. Singapore-certified products and the premises under MUIS Halal Certification Conditions.

  What it does not mean. MUIS silence on an E-number is not a Muttoo classification. A foreign mark MUIS does not recognise is not a Singapore halal mark.

  How to verify. MUIS Halal portal and the foreign halal certification body list. Open the portal

• Indonesia

  LPPOM MUI

  Typical look. MUI Halal logo (often with the BPJPH transition). Indonesian packs are moving onto the state BPJPH scheme; older MUI marks still appear.

  What it certifies. The Indonesian-certified product or facility under that scheme.

  What it does not mean. An Indonesian mark does not automatically bind a UK or US shopper's certifier. It is not a fatwa on insect colours for every school.

  How to verify. halalmui.org / BPJPH product check. Open the portal

• United Kingdom

  Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC)

  Typical look. HMC roundel / wordmark on meat and some groceries. HMC is known for a non-stunned slaughter standard — that is their scheme, not Muttoo's.

  What it certifies. The HMC-certified product under HMC's standard.

  What it does not mean. HMC and HFA disagree on stunning. Seeing one mark is not a ruling that the other body is wrong. Muttoo shows both; it does not pick.

  How to verify. halalhmc.org — search the brand or outlet. Open the portal

• United Kingdom

  Halal Food Authority (HFA)

  Typical look. HFA wordmark on UK retail meat and some manufactured foods. HFA's stunning policy differs from HMC's.

  What it certifies. The HFA-certified product under HFA's standard.

  What it does not mean. Not a blanket additive table. Not a verdict on HMC. Not a Muttoo classification you can buy.

  How to verify. halalfoodauthority.com. Open the portal

• South Africa

  SANHA

  Typical look. SANHA logo on Southern African packs. SANHA also publishes E-number educational tables — those tables are not a mark on your SKU.

  What it certifies. SANHA-certified products.

  What it does not mean. A SANHA E-number PDF saying stearic acid is mashbooh is guidance, not a factory audit of this chocolate.

  How to verify. sanha.org.za. Open the portal

• United States

  ISA / American Halal Foundation

  Typical look. ISA crescent or AHF wordmark on US manufactured foods. Often small, near the nutrition panel.

  What it certifies. That body's certified SKU or plant.

  What it does not mean. A blog post from the same organisation about emulsifiers is not the mark. Muttoo linking the blog is citation, not certification.

  How to verify. The certifier's product search, or the number printed by the mark. Open the portal

HMC and HFA disagree on stunning. Seeing one UK mark is not a ruling that the other body is wrong. See the source registry and where scholars disagree.